Sr. Stephanie Rafter OSU

Sincere sympathy on the passing of Sr. Stephanie. May she rest in peace.

Sr Stephaine…. “Thank you for the music,”….singing with the Heavenly choir now.
Rest in peace.
My condolences to your family and fellow sisters.

Ursuline College past pupil. Strandhill

Sincere sympathy to the Ursuline sisters and the Rafter family on the passing of Sr.Stephanie.Fond memories of her gentleness. kindness and great patience with those of us who didn't make it past Seomra 15.May her gentle soul rest in peace.

Sincere sympathy to Sr. Dorothy, Sr Marieanne, the Ursuline Community and the Rafter family
on Sr Stephanie's passing. It was only after Sunday choir that another past pupil told me the sad news. I have many happy memories of singing soprano on the benches in the hall, the joy of the songs from operas such as Waltzes of Vienna but in particular the violin tuition given in number 25 and the subsequent participation in the school orchestra. We did not realise it at the time but they were moments that stayed with us a lifetime.

It is only on reflection and some years distant that one realizes the scale of Sr
Stephanie's achievements over the years. To conduct the choir, teach the orchestra, produce and stage manage so many operas to the highest standard, with such grace, sheer hard work and endless patience is truly remarkable. Very fond memories. Rest in peace Tottie, I'm sure you will be sadly missed by your beloved sisters, family and community.

I'm nothing special, in fact I'm a bit of a bore
If I tell a joke, you've probably heard it before
But we have a talent, a wonderful thing
'Cause everyone listens when we start to sing
I'm so grateful and proud
All we want is to sing it out loud
So I say
Thank you for the music, the songs we're singing
Thanks for all the joy they're bringing
Who can live without it? I ask in all honesty
What would life be?
Without a song or a dance, what are we?
🎵
So I say Sr Stephanie thank you for the music
For giving it to me
Ita and Lorna

Sincere sympathy to the Rafter family on the passing of your aunt Sr. Stephanie. May she rest in peace.

Sincere Sympathy to The Rafter Family & The Ursuline Community on the passing of Sr Stephanie. May she rest in peace

Sincere sympathy to Mary much loved niece and all the Raftery extended families and all her. Sisters in the Convent onthe passing of a wonderful prayerful honest and sincere lady Was delighted to have been acquainted with her in Galway May her gently soul-rest in peace 🙏

Sincere condolences to the Ursline sisters Michael and the Rafter family on the passing of Sr Stephanie. May she rest in peace.

Sincere condolences on the passing of Sister Stephanie,taught us to enjoy music,lovely memories of choir and the operas.May her gentle soul Rest in Peace .Wonderful memories class of 1973.

Sincere sympathy to all the Rafter family on the passing of aunt Tottie - thoughts are with you in the days and weeks ahead

I’d like to thank Sr. Stephanie for her patience and perseverance with us in the orchestra (1973) . It was a pleasure being part of it. Only for her I would never have appreciated the beautiful sound of the cello and classical music in particular. . May she rest in peace.

Our deepest sympathy to all the Ursuline sisters & the Rafter family, on the passing of Sr Stephanie, may her kind & gentle soul rest in peace.

Deepest sympathy to the Ursuline Community and the Rafter family on the passing of Sr. Stephanie.
May she Rest in Peace.

Sincerest sympathy on the death of dear Sr. Stephanie...
As a past pupil of class of 1974, Sr. taught me the violin and I made it into the orchestra. Great memories with other students attending our music lessons ... rest in peace Sr. Stephanie...

My sympathy to the Rafter family on the death of Sr. Stephanie. She will always be
known to us in Easkey as "Tottie. She had a long life and as a result , few ,Easkey people remember her.
May she rest in peace and rise in glory.

Sincere sympathy to the Ursuline Community & the Rafter family on Sr Stephanie’s passing. I loved being part of the choir in the 70’ , but violin was a different story. Rest in peace Sr. Stephanie.

Sincere condolences to the Ursuline Sisters on the passing of Sr. Stephanie. I have lovely memories of choir practice in the 70's, May she Rest in Peace.

Sincere sympathy to the Ursuline Community and the Rafter family on the passing of Sr Stephanie RIP.
Fond memories of times singing in the choir, the operas and Sunday morning masses -(late 70s) you were always so pleasant and patient with us.

Thank you for the music.

So sorry to hear of this lovely woman's passing. She was so patient teaching me the clarinet even though I was useless. Her love of music is something that I'll never forget and I remember vividly listening to the flight of the bumblebees in her music room, and the class being entranced. She gave so many people a love of music, and was so kind. My condolences to family and friends.

Heartfelt Condolence to the Rafter family, Sr Dorothy, Sr Marieanne & Ursuline Community on the sad passing of Sr Stephanie, lovely memories as an Ursuline boarder (class of '73),Sr was such a lady, so gentle softly spoken when you would meet on the corridor.
I loved Sister's music appreciation classes closing our eyes, creating our own context of the great composers, but alas I failed to make the choir, but I thought maybe if I sneaked back into the choir nervously, Sr, may not notice, my lovely late Sister Martina (class of '68,we both were boarders) joked we came the whole way from Dublin to see you in a operatta & you can't sing, but I told Martina I made sure I mouthed the words, so I wouldn't put the girls off, but at one of our school reunions, maybe 20 yrs later I told Sr Stephanie what I had done as it was always on my mind, Sr said graciously, thank u for telling me & happy you enjoyed being in the choir,to this day I love the old Carols, Latin etc espically at Christmas so thank you Sr Stephaine for the love of music, as did my beautiful late mother did too, as she also was a music teacher & our sons appreciate art of music.
Thank you Sr Stephaine
Requiesce in Pace

My sincere condolences to the Ursuline sisters and the Rafter family on the passing of a truly gifted teacher and kind person. Sr Stephanie gave generously of her time and used her extraordinary talent to benefit so many over the years . My five sisters and I were privileged to be part of her orchestra . Playing the violin and being part of many operas stands out as one of the most joyous experiences I had in the Ursuline. Thank you Sr Stephanie rest in peace.

My sincere condolences to the Ursuline Sisters and the Rafter family on the sad passing of dear Sr Stephanie,a kind, gentle and lovely lady.We had a special bond because I too was from Easkey.Ar dheis De go a hanamh dilis.

My sincere condolences to the Ursuline Sisters and the Rafter family
on the passing of Sr. Stephanie. A truly genteel Lady. She had a lot of
patience and was very kind. Fond memories of her.
R.I.P. Sr. Stephanie

Condolences to the family and the Ursuline community

Sincerest sympathies to the Rafter family and the Ursuline sisters on the sad passing of Sister Stephanie.
I remember her when she studied music at UCD and some years later I visited her in her school where I got a warm welcome.
Ceol na n-aingeal go gcloise sí.

Our deepest condolences to Sr. Stephanie's family and the Ursuline Sisters. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a h-anam dílis.

Sincere sympathy to the Ursuline Sisters and the Rafter family on the passing of Sr Stephanie. Fond memories of choir practice in the 70's. May she Rest in Peace.

Sr Stephanie gave kind words of encouragement to a shy, quiet and unsure student and therein makes a world of difference. Sr Stephanie is recalled fondly many years later. May Sr Stephanie rest in peace.

Sincere sympathy to the Rafter family may Sr Stephanie rest in peace

Suaimhneas sioraí di i mbaclann na n- aingeal.

My sincere sympathy to the family of Sr. Stephanie and to the Sisters of the Ursuline Order on the passing of Sr. Stephanie. As a past pupil of the Ursuline in Sligo I have fond memories of her and have heard many wonderful stories of her friendship over the years with my mother-in-law Mary McCanny. May Sr. Stephanie Rest In Peace in God’s gentle care.

Sincere sympathy to the Ursuline Community and the Rafter Family on the sad passing of Sr. Stephaine she was a lovely lady it was a pleasure to be part of her care team for many years. Rest In Eternal peace Sr. Stephaine.

Sister Stephanie was always a joy to meet. Her enthusiasm and dedication to music in the school was remarkable .
Sincere sympathy to the Ursuline community and the Rafter family .
She was an unique person who was always kind and always gentle.

Our Sincere sympathy to the Rafter Family & Ursuline Sisters on the loss of Sr. Stephanie.
May she rest in eternal happiness and peace.🕊

Fond memories of Sister Stephanie. She gave me music which I will forever cherish. Codhladh na naingeal dhuit, Tottie.

Deepest and prayerful sympathy dear Sr Stephanie family her Community Marieanne Maura Sarah Dorothy and all her friends.I have lovely memories going from St Patricks to the Opera's it was always something I looked forward . Sr Stephanie was a lovely gentle person in every way May her gentle soul Rest in Peace.

Sincere sympathy to the Rafter family may Sr Stephanie rest in peace

Deepest sympathies to the Rafter Family & the Ursuline Sisters on the very sad passing of Sr. Stephanie. Great memories of the Ursuline College Choir.

Rest in Eternal Peace.

Rest in Peace Sr Stephanie

Sincere sympathy to Sr. Stephanie,s Ursuline family and to the Rafter family on her passing. I remember her as a caring and gentle teacher at Ursuline Convent ,Sligo. Rest in Peace Sr Stephanie.

Sincere sympathy to the Ursuline Community and the Rafter Family. May Sr Stephanie rest in peace.

Sincere condolences to the Ursuline community on the passing of Sr Stephanie. She was a gentle, kind lady and a great musician. May she rest in peace.

Sad news to hear the passing of Sr Stephanie (my auntie Tottie). She was always the favourite of my late father, Martin Rafter. Although they only managed to meet up once a year, they chatted (and laughed) often on the phone. Sr Stephanie was a great support and was always there for everyone. She will be missed greatly by her family and many friends. RIP.

My sincere condolences to the Ursuline community and the Rafter family on the loss of a very special lady. I have many fond memories of Sr. Stephanie in the 1970’s…not least when she told me to leave the choir ….and then forgave me for whatever the issue was and asked me to come back again. Despite ourselves, she made us sound so good! Rest in peace, Sr. Stephanie. Ceol na n-aingeal go gcloise sí agus leaba i measc na naomh go raibh aici.

My sincere sympathy to Sr. Sarah, and all the Ursuline Community, and the Rafter family on the sad passing of Sr. Stephanie. She was such an amazing, talented musician and teacher, as well as being such a gentle, kind and caring human being. I was so privileged to have had her as my wonderful
music teacher, and beautiful friend during my five years as a boarder in St. Joseph’s in the 1960’s.
May her gentle soul rest in eternal peace.
Ceól na bhflaithis go gcloisfidh sí.

Sending our condolences and thoughts to the Ursuline community, and Sr Stephanie’s family and friends.

She was an amazing musician and teacher - not many could have taught the full range of instruments that made up our school orchestra. I have very fond memories of rehearsals, of the little practice rooms off Salle and the box of Scots Clan that appeared if we had done well!

Sr Stephanie, you passed on a love of classical music to your students and from them to the next generation. When I see my own daughters, playing in their school orchestras here in Melbourne, I am infinitely grateful for the opportunity given to us and the love of music you instilled.
Ar dheis Dé go raibh a h-anam dílis.

Rip Sr Stephanie. As other people have said, she loved music, so much so, that I was only allowed to pull the curtains. Immpecable taste

My deepest sympathy to the Rafter family and the Ursuline Community on the sad passing of Sr. Stephanie. May her soul rest in peace in God's gentle care.

Sincere condolences to Sister Stephanie’s Ursuline Community and to her extended family. Sister Stephanie was a true educator in the broadest sense of that word. Her students were all the richer for her dedication to music. Our daughter Aisling was fortunate enough to join Sister Stephanie’s orchestra and what a joy that was. Thank you Sr. Stephanie. Beidh ceol ar Neamh anocht!

My deepest sympathy to you the Ursuline Community and to the Rafter family on the death of Sr. Stephanie. In my early days of teaching I painted the backdrops for the school Operas. It was such a pleasure to do the work for her as she appreciated all that was done for her. She was such a gifted person but so kind and generous. Sr. Stephanie was a great school pal of my late aunt Ita Flynn (Sloan). May Sr. Stephanie Rest In Peace.

Condolences to all of Sr. Stephanie's family. May she rest in peace. 🙏🌹

Sincere sympathy to Sister Stephanie's family and to the Ursuline Community on the death of one your loveliest sisters, Sister Stephanie. She was a wonderful musician and instilled a love of music in her students. She taught many instruments, conducted the choir and directed musicals. What an achievement. May she rest in peace.

My sincere condolences to the Ursuline Community and the Rafter family on the death of Sr. Stephanie. 'It was the best of times and the worst of times' Schooldays in Sr. Stephanie's company was always the best of times! She was warm and kind and gave generously of her wonderful gift of music to her students. May she rest in peace.

Our deepest sympathy to the Ursuline Community and the Rafter family at this sad time. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a hanam.

St. Stephanie, “Totty”,
You were the best of teachers and the kindest of humans. Thank you for your kindness to me during my time as a boarder in the Ursuline. You made it enormous fun with the operas and choir. You ignited in us a huge passion for music and singing - a lifelong gift for which I am so grateful. “Open your throat as though you’re about to yawn” still rings in my ears! And thank you for being such a great friend to my Auntie Vianney.

Condolences to the Ursuline Community & to The Rafter Family on the death of Sr. Stephanie.

Fond memories of Operas & Singing Classes in the Big Hall during the '80s.

May she rest in peace.

Barbara Moloney

Sincere sympathy to all of Sr. Stephanie's family and to the Ursuline Community. May her gentle soul Rest in Peace.

My condolences to the Ursuline Community and to the Rafter family on the death of Sr. Stephanie.
A wonderful musician and teacher, Sr Stephanie gave generously of her time teaching many instruments, conducting choirs and orchestras, producing and directing school musicals and everything was done to the highest standard. A true educator , Sr. Stephanie developed the musical talents of thousands of students in her lifetime of teaching. Suaimhneas síoraí dá hanam uasal dílis.